Hello Sea Grant Renewable Energy Folks,

 

You may already be aware of this sad news, but I've been asked to share this widely within the Sea Grant Network. Please forward as appropriate. As a former fellow, I sincerely hope we make a difference.

 

Best,

Meghan

 

Meghan Massaua

Marine Science and Policy Specialist

Cardinal Engineering

Supporting the U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Power Technologies Office

202.586.2701

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From: Philip Bye [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 2:10 PM
Subject: A Message From The Sea Grant Association

 

 

April 19, 2013

 

Dear Current and Former Sea Grant Knauss Fellows:

 

This week the President released his Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request.  As you may be aware, the National Sea Grant College Program’s Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program has been eliminated from the NOAA Sea Grant budget request as part of a larger consolidation of STEM programs.  The Sea Grant Association (SGA) is reaching out to Sea Grant Knauss Fellows, past and present, to enlist your support of the SGA’s efforts to educate and inform policy makers about the importance of the National Sea Grant College Program and specifically, the Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program.

 

Sea Grant and Knauss Alumni go on to have great impact in their fields and many alumni enter public service on behalf of our oceans, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.  In response to a recent survey of NOAA employees, 22% stated that the National Sea Grant Program provided support and training to them at some point through their career.  In addition, 94% of those respondents stated that their Sea Grant experience was a positive influence in their professional careers.  Sea Grant programs continue to provide science-based, education and research experiences that have lasting positive impacts on participants and the communities that they serve.

 

Since its inception, the Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program has brought over 900 graduate students interested in natural resource policy to Washington, D.C. to work with federal agencies and Members of Congress as part of their professional training.  The Knauss fellows provide vital technical and scientific support to the offices in which they serve.

 

As budget constraints continue to grow, the SGA will be engaging with policy makers both in the Congress and within the relevant agencies to demonstrate the high return on the federal investment in Sea Grant and the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship Program. 

 

Click here for the testimony the SGA submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee on this matter, and here for the SGA “one-pager” addressing Sea Grant’s needs in the FY14 Budget.  In addition, Senator Wicker and Congressman Farr have authored a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter in support of the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, which was sent to the House and Senate CJS Subcommittees on Appropriations, earlier today.  I wanted you to be aware of our ongoing efforts as well as to seek your advice, counsel and assistance in helping us to make the very best case we can for the National Sea Grant College Program and the Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program.  If the SGA can provide you with any information in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact me or Phil Bye ([log in to unmask]) of our government relations team for assistance. 

 

Sincerely,

 

LaDon Swann, Ph.D.

President, Sea Grant Association

Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

[log in to unmask] or 251-648-5877